Lavash at First Sight

Voksuni’s second queer contemporary romance (following Sorry, Bro) is deftly brought to life by Iranian Armenian narrator Christine Mirzayan. Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian is a 27-year-old Armenian American with an intense tech job in the Bay Area. After being dumped by a coworker, she finds escape in her parent’s Armenian food business and travels with them to a conference in Chicago. There, she meets and falls for Vanya Simonian, also Armenian American, but soon finds out that Vanya is the daughter of her parents’ business rivals. When Ellie and Vanya are forced to compete in a contest at the conference, tension between them and their families builds. The importance of family bonds shines throughout the novel, and delectable culinary descriptions are plentiful. The competition adds mirth and drives the plot forward as listeners wonder which family will win and what that might mean for Ellie and Vanya. Mirzayan’s facility with Armenian adds authenticity as she voices the parents’ accents, and a distinct contrast is made between Ellie’s and Vanya’s voices, capturing the sarcasm, flirtation, and sincerity between the two.